What I Like: Adam Zimmerman, president, marketing, CSE

■An insight: While all community initiatives are beneficial, programs that support kids by giving them positive outlets like playgrounds, green spaces and structured after-school recreation have the deepest impact.

■An influential person in my career: Ruth Alexander at the University of Florida, a pioneer in Title IX legislation.

ADAM ZIMMERMANPresident, marketing,
CSE■Where I'm From: Born in Ann Arbor, Mich., grew up on the west coast of Florida, and now reside in Atlanta.

■Where I Went to School: B.A., history, and M.S., sport management, University of Florida.

■My First Job: Camp counselor at a Florida wildlife preserve.

■A timeless idea: Face-to-face interactions are the best means of communication.

■A business deal: The ability of the NFL players union and owners to work toward a mutually beneficial deal — a lesson for the U.S. government.

■A sports facility: Fenway Park.

■A sports event: Wednesday at the Masters.

■A strategy: Service what you sell.

■A hire: Mark Lazarus as chairman of NBC Sports.

■A brand: Starbucks. They created their own category, suffered setbacks, reconnected with the core brand and built next-generation revenue extensions.

■A trend: The need for all brands to understand and utilize mobile as a go-to market strategy.

■A pro league or team business initiative: The efforts of Mark Emmert to begin reform of the NCAA.

■A story that bears watching: The lack of P.E. in schools, as well as the loss of community facilities. This will have implications for the next generation of fans.

■A fantasy job: U.S. congressman.

What I Like About …

■My job: Variety of opportunities for ongoing learning.

■Sports: Its ability to foster community.

■Sports business: In the eyes of academia and corporate America, no longer an oxymoron.

■Sports media: Increasingly allows for fans to have a voice.

■Sports technology: Will continue to be fertile ground for companies/products looking to target early adopters and trendsetters.

■Competing: Endless opportunities for improvement.

■The future of sports business: Continued mainstream acceptance by corporate America as a business-driving tool on equal footing with other marketing disciplines.

■Sports fans: The lifeblood and foundation of our industry.

What I Would Like To …

■Change: The lack of civility in our discourse on a personal and national level.

■Change in what I do: Find time to become an adjunct professor in sports business to better connect with the next generation of sports marketers.

■See more of in sports: Safer environments for fans.

■See less of in sports business: Selling inventory rather than what is best for the client.

■Eliminate: Selfishness.

What I Don’t Like ...

■In general: Narcissism.

■Pet peeve: People who park in emergency/fire lanes.

■In sports: Excessive celebration of mundane achievement.

■About sports fans: Those who spoil the family experience.

PERSONAL

What I Like …

■People: Those who are authentic and have a sense of humor.

■That would surprise those who know me: I started college as a track athlete at University of Nevada, Reno.